Posts Tagged ‘Susan Buford’

While Jim Buford, honcho of the St. Louis Metropolitan Urban League (UL) held the
attention of the 1,200-member audience at the Millenium Hotel, Marc Morial, the UL’s  national prez, took a shot at the U.S. Congress.  Morial pushed President Obama‘s concept of a vote up or vote down on the Health Care Reform bill and then called the lack of action by Congress “troubling.”  Meanwhile, local pols lined up to glad-hand Morial on the 100th anniversary of the New York-based UL. Hizzoner Slay spoke of Morial’s insightful leadership skills, when the two were colleagues with the Conference of Mayors. Morial was then mayor of New Orleans. Slay proclaimed the month of March as “The National Urban League’s Empowering Communities and Changing Lives” month.  Not to be outdone, Charlie Dooley and Alvin Parks did their ceremonial pitches after which Mark A. Kern, chairman, St. Clair County, mused, “I will proclaim it the national Urban League of the Century,” which got a rousing cheer.  Awards were presented for accomplishments in helping people in the African-American community to:  the Rev. Michael T. Jones; Cheryl Heard of Racial Harmony; Citi Corp., Faye Robinson and Habitat for Humanity.  The city unit of the league welcomed to its board Thomas Irwin of Civic Progress at which time some hisses were heard.  On hand for the gambol were:  Col. Bill and Cheryl Young; Susan Buford; U.L. chairman and former Veiled Prophet Stephen C. Jones; Emily Pitts; Melanie DeLeo; Frankie M. Freeman; the Rev. E.D. Shields; Katherine Osborn; Johnny Furr; Dr. Karl Wilson; John and Emma Moten, Jr.,; Henry Givens; Zelema Harris; Dennis Golden; Debra Denham; Christine Chadwick; the Rev. Sammie Jones; Metro Evening Whirl’s Gentry Trotter and St. Louis American’s Donald Suggs. After he was introed to revenue collector Greg F.X. Daly, Morial joshed, “Hey, I don’t owe any taxes.  I’m all paid up!”  And, head table guests eyeballed what some described as a 5-carat diamond ring on St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green‘s finger.  Word was that she recently got hitched to businessman Melvin Hayes.

In the party room of Carmello and Frank Gabriele’s restaurant, a celebration of life was underway to toast on their natal days: Ruth Todd on her 99th; Ann Ewers on her 100th, Anna Maria Polizzi, 85th and Roseanne Cusumano, 80th. Hosted by Anna Polizzi Keeler, Phyllis Herich, Kathy Gatti, Betty Dodd and Linda Liebman, the party featured an all-Siciliano feast. Party favors included Polizzi Keeler’s candles with her ocean floral fragrance.

Norwood Hills C.C. was where civil rights advocate James Buford hosted the 50th birthday celebration for his wife, Susan. About 75 of the Bufords’ nearest ‘n dearest, including civic and business leaders, attended the frolic amid the background of Music Unlimited Sound. During the dinner, Jim shared with the guests, that when Susan reached the half-century mark, she received her AARP membership card. Jim said, “She tossed it into the trash not realizing that in today’s economy one needs all the discounts one can get.” Following the party, Jim headed for China to attend a national conclave of Urban Leaguers. On hand were attorney Wayman Smith, III., with Susan Arceneaux, who will say “I do” in March. James E. Williams, Jr., a McDonald’s franchisee told friends, that he is about to open his sixth McDonald’s. He was glad-handed upon his recent selection as the first African-American president of McDonald’s U.S.A. Faces in the crowd included those of: Edward Turner and Kathy Allen; Gentry Trotter; Dr. Jerome and Marva Williams; Dr. James and Donna Knight; Aaron Phillips; Charles and Jerilyn Rhodes; Alicia Bams; John and Emma Moten; Dr.Bernard Randolph, Jr., and Kathleen Smith; Johnny and Minga Furr; Judge Charles and Kay Shaw and Damien Trasada and Dr. Ingrid Taylor Trasada.

Rumors that Dr. Henry Givens may step down as chief of Harris-Stowe State University were in abundance at the Missouri MLK Statewide Celebration Kick-Off Program the other night on the campus. However, Givens was in full command as an audience of 2,000 gave enthusastic hosanahs for the Rev. Al Sharpton.  The civil rights leader, who filled his keynote with humor, biblical tales and blunt street-talk, was caught twittering in Givens’ office, while Cong. Lacy Clay, Jr. and Cong. Russ Carnahan chowed-down.  KSDK, Channel 5′s most-watched education reporter and the station’s young, news/weather anchor Anthony Slaughter kept the program moving in a timely and pleasant pace. InBev AB’s John Furr and honorary chair of the event introduced Rev. Sharpton as “a transformational leader, a man who has challenged the American social and political establishment.”President Obama calls Rev. Sharpton ‘the voice of the voiceless and a champion for the downtrodden,”  said Furr. Rev. Sharpton mused, “You know, it’s amazing how many people marched with Dr. King.  They will tell you they marched with him and they are probably lying.”  Sharpton began his ministry at the age of  four.  Others getting their time in the spotlight were Robin Wright-Jones, Tishaura Jones, Mayor Slay, Charlie Dooley and Percy Green, who was heckled by an attendee, who was ejected from the room.  MIA was Gov. Jay Nixon, who only did a brief drive-by at a private pouring and then blew the Hood. On Sunday, just getting warmed-up from his Saturday night bombastic and poignant keynote, Rev. Sharpton accepted an invite to deliver a sermon to an SRO crowd at the Friendly Temple Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Drive. Faces in the crowd: the Rev. Earl Nance, Jr., James and Susan Buford, Merdean Gales, Ruth Smith, Gwen Packnett, Betty Thompson, Anita Banks, Frankie Muse Freeman, Stacy and Judge Jimmie Edwards, Judge Charles Shaw and wife, Kay, Argus publisher Yaphett El-Amin, Joe Keaveny and Lou Brock. (See photos taken by the Metro Evening Whirl).